AMC Announces Taxidermy and 'Venice Beach Freakshow' Reality Series, Renews 'The Pitch'

Jack Wolford/AMC

AMC is beefing up its unscripted slate. The cable network announced two new original series Thursday, as well as the renewal of reality foray The Pitch.

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The first project is an untitled competition that pits taxidermists against one another in challenges that require "both the rogue and classic schools of taxidermy." It's executive produced by Laguna Beach's Go Go Luckey Entertainment and includes a producing team of Gary Auerbach, Julie Auerbach, Tina Gazzerro and Henry Capanna. It will consist of eight half-hour episodes and scheduled to premiere in the first quarter of 2013.

Venice Beach Freakshow (working title) comes to the network from Todd Ray if Living Wonders and Greg Johnston from Endemol USA. It follows Ray, a former music producer, as he attempts to launch a "Freakshow" on Venice Beach's famous boardwalk. Those eight half-hour episodes are also scheduled to launch in early 2013.

Additionally, the network has given the green light to another season of its Mad Men-inspired advertising reality show The Pitch.

“Season one of The Pitch captured the intensity of the advertising world and provided the ultimate behind-the-scenes look at the compelling and dramatic pitch process," said Joel Stillerman, AMC's executive vp original programming, production and digital content. "We are so pleased to work again with Studio Lambert on the show’s return.”

The eight-episode run will premiere in the second quarter of 2013.

AMC's other unscripted series, Small Town Security, is in the middle of its freshman season in the network.